Some believe maca root enhances fertility and improves sexual performance, but is it the real deal? What does the science say about this herb, sometimes called Peruvian ginseng? Find out here.<\/p>\n
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Maca (Lepidium meyenii<\/i>) is a cruciferous vegetable native to the Andes mountains of Peru. It looks like a radish or turnip and is consumed both as a dietary staple and as a medicinal herb. The main edible part of maca is the root.<\/p>\n
Also known as Peruvian ginseng, maca has been used by traditional cultures living in Peru for thousands of years as an aphrodisiac and to support life in the harsh mountain climate. <\/b>Inca warriors consumed maca for strength in battle [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n There are 13 maca variations, named for the color of their roots. In some cases, different colors of maca can produce different biological effects [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The most commonly studied colors are yellow, black, and red.<\/p>\n Maca contains 10% water, 59% carbohydrates, 10 to 14% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber, and 2.2% fat [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A 7 g (1 tablespoon) serving of maca root powder contains 20 calories, 4 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein, and 0 g fat.<\/p>\n Maca is rich in calcium, potassium, iron, and iodine<\/b>. It also contains copper, manganese, zinc, vitamin C, riboflavin (vitamin B2<\/a>), and thiamine (vitamin B1<\/a>) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Maca contains 20 different fatty acids (including linolenic, palmitic, and oleic acids), and 19 amino acids.<\/p>\n Red and black maca have high levels of choline [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Red maca is high in GABA<\/a> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The main active compound in maca is the alkaloid macaridine<\/b>. It has not been found in any other plant [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Maca also contains macamides, which are fatty acids unique to maca.<\/p>\n Glucosinolates are active components of maca and contribute a bitter flavor. Fresh maca has 10 times the glucosinolates of other cruciferous vegetables. Red maca has the most glucosinolates, followed by black and yellow [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Maca also contains dietary polyphenols which vary depending on the color of the root [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Maca also contains a compound (MTCA), which inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO – an enzyme that breaks down certain transmitters) and has shown the ability to mutate DNA in cell studies [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Maca supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.<\/p>\n The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of maca for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking maca supplements, and never use it in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.<\/p>\n Taking maca for 12 weeks increased sexual desire<\/b> in a study (DB-RCT) of 57 healthy men [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 20 men and women, taking maca for 12 weeks improved antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction and increased sex drive. These effects were strongest with 3 g of daily supplementation [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 8 men, maca extract taken for 2 weeks increased sex drive [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Maca extract taken for 12 weeks increased erectile function and sexual well-being<\/b> in a study (DB-RCT) of 50 men with mild erectile dysfunction [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study (DB-RCT) of 14 healthy postmenopausal women, 6 weeks of maca supplementation reduced sexual dysfunction [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Black maca increased sperm count, volume, and quality<\/b> in a study of 9 healthy men [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n These studies are not large enough to definitively say that maca increases sex drive or improves sexual function, but they are very promising. Larger, more powerful studies will provide more information.<\/p>\n Maca taken for 6 weeks lowered<\/b> anxiety<\/b><\/a> and<\/b> depression<\/b><\/a> symptoms<\/b> in small studies of a total of 43 postmenopausal women [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 197 people, 12 weeks of maca supplementation improved mood, reduced fatigue, and increased reported quality of life [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In rats, maca reduced depression-like behaviors [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n These results are promising, but future studies will need to repeat them with larger samples under more rigorous conditions.<\/p>\nMaca Constituents<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Mechanisms of Action<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Health Benefits<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Insufficient Evidence For<\/span><\/h3>\n
1) Sex Drive & Sexual Function<\/h4>\n
2) Anxiety and Depression<\/h4>\n